March 3, 1963 – July 13, 2013 In Loving Memory.
Daphne, AL

Rosemary ‘Rosie’ Elizabeth Leach Merold, age 50, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 13, 2013 surrounded by her loving family. Rosie was born in Waco, TX and was part of the Fairhope High School graduating class of 1981. She received her B.S. from the University of West Florida and her Master’s in Education from the University of South Alabama. Rosie worked as a reading specialist with the Alabama State Department of Education. She attended Spanish Fort United Methodist Church and along with her passion for teaching, she loved to travel, decorate cupcakes, go to the beach and watch sunsets. However, Rosie’s greatest joys were found in supporting her husband and daughters.

She is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Leach and brother, Thomas T. Leach.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Merold and her daughters, Michaela and Savannah; her parents, James ‘Woody’ and Barbara Cotton of Daphne; her step-mother Janelle Leach of Navarre, FL; her brother, James Joseph Cotton of Houston, TX ; her sister, Viki Leach (Eric) Woerner of Vicksburg, MS; her sister, Barbara Leach of Cedar Bluff AL and many other relatives and friends.

A celebration of Rosie’s life will be held at 11 am on Friday, July 19, 2013 at Spanish Fort United Methodist Church with Rev. Debora Bishop officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the GIST Cancer Research Fund at 55 Saw Mill Road, New York City, NY 10956 or at www.gistinfo.org. Notes of condolence for the family may be made at hughesfh.com. Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home & Crematory of Daphne.